Port Orleans French Quarter FAQ thread - Refurbished for 2011 - Now CLOSED

[andrewilley]

Coffee makers...

Andre

 

[wdwnut61]

Just back Saturday from a week at POFQ. We paid for a water view room and I was a little worried when I read that the view could be of the pool, the river, or a fountain. Well we wound up in building 2 room 2333. It was the corner room overlooking the pool with a side view of the river. We loved it. DW and I have been going the last few summers and unofficially celebrating our anniversery even though it isn't till August 28. The rooms look great and the queen beds were so much better than the full sized ones. We were close to everything, the food court, the boat to DTD, and the front door and the busses. We also really liked being on the 3rd floor. We flew and took ME with online checkin and we literally zoomed through the process. We got to the Hotel about 1:30 and the room was ready and we dropped of some things and headed straight to MK. We also took time to walk to Riverside for breakfast one morning and look around their gift shop. Also the direct POFQ busses made things a lot more bearable as well.

We love POFQ and have stayed there I think 5 times and have already said next trip we are going back.

Welcome Back

Your room location and view sound perfect. Glad you had a great time.

 

[villiansfan]

Thank you so much for this thread!!

I'm thinking about upgrading from a value resort to a moderate and I'm very interested in this one I think the major selling point to me was the queen beds :lol:

I will find out within the next few weeks if we can upgrade or not ... depends if disney will let us on such a short notice

Amunet - It looks like we are going to be in the World at the same time. I did call with a question about upgrades and they will gladly do so if they have availability on your dates. You just have to pay the difference.

 

[Sue (mom of 3 boys!)]

Just got my confirmation-we have officially changed from POP to POFQ for DH and my 25th anniversary trip this January. I think we will really like it there
I read 45 pages of this thread today-the rest will be done in the next few days...

 

[Brandilovesdisney]

I'm going for the first time November 27th-Dec 8th - I am so excited!!!!!!!
I changed our reservation from POP to here as a surprise (no one in the group knows but me)

 

[eeyoregon]

I just tried to add 2 more nights at POFQ to my current reservation and they are SOLD out!! Guess we'll stay at AsSp for the first 2 nights and transfer to POFQ for the other 5 nights.

Soooo, how exactly will we transfer our stuff between the resorts? We are going to have 9+ pieces of luggage and the idea is a bit daunting!

Thanks!

Gina

 

[cassie]

That should be no problem. Bell services will deliver your luggage to POFQ. It will probably take a few hours until it arrives, so when you get into your room you'll have to call bell services to bring it to room your room.

 

[Disney before Sally]

Thank you for all the pictures related to the coffee, Andre. It looks like the place that holds the provided sealed paper packettes of coffee is large enough to use open top filter paper without overflow of my coffee grinds. So dunkin donuts coffee, paper filters, water, and half and half should take care of the best part of waking up.

I am running out of details to micromanage.

 

[weheartdisney]

We'll be back *home* in 45 days. I can't wait.

And our boys have no idea. They don't think we are going to Disney this year. We're telling them we are going on the morning we leave. I cannot wait to see their faces and hear their screams of excitement!!

 

[Sue (mom of 3 boys!)]

Thank you for all the pictures related to the coffee, Andre. It looks like the place that holds the provided sealed paper packettes of coffee is large enough to use open top filter paper without overflow of my coffee grinds. So dunkin donuts coffee, paper filters, water, and half and half should take care of the best part of waking up.

I am running out of details to micromanage.

I am doing the same thing!!
(with the coffee AND the micromanaging!)
(Dunks makes the pods now too!)

 

[Hootch]

back. We spent seven nights at POFQ last week. Some initial thoughts:

Refurb

- really like the full counter sink. There was plenty of room for toiletries - especially with the shelf remaining.
- liked the new decor. The contrast of the light walls and the dark wood and colors made the walls seem stark to me. A mid level border may have helped.
- my wife thought the drawers were too deep. I liked them.
- noticed how the dresser has plug ins allowing for easy connections for electronic equipment to the TV. We didn't try it but it seems convenient.
- still not happy with the refrigerators. I only put ten water bottles in the first day and they still didn't get very cold. I have a 25 year old former dorm fridge in my game room that cools better.

Buses

- Generally positive with mainly minimal waits and very few times standing.
- Two issues 1) a 40 minute wait at MK before a bus arrived and 2) The boats on the Sassagoula River were shut down due to lightening. There was no Port Orleans bus for over an hour. We eventually made it to POFQ after an 1:45 after going through POR. Some people waited longer. We kept intending to catch a cab but buses kept coming and we were sure the next one would be for PO. By the the time the first bus showed up there were probably three busloads of people.
- In general WDW buses are nonsensical to me. One time at 7:00 AM going to an AM EMH park, I saw three buses for another park and two for another before the AM EMH park bus arrived. The bus we wanted was within 15 minutes of us arriving at the stop but it was surprising. A second time I had to run by the front desk as we were leaving. I arrived at the bus stop before my family and a MK bus arrived. They were late and the bus was pulling away before they could get there. The next bus to pull up was another MK bus a minute after the last one pulled away which we rode by ourselves.

Location

We asked for Bldgs 5 then 4 but got 3. That's not a big deal. Bldg 3 had a large Brazilian tour group contingency. The first couple of nights they were very loud up to and beyond midnight. The guy two doors down was very vocal and direct. We mentioned the noise issue to the front desk. The noise levels did diminish somewhat later in our stay. The one benefit was I always had a parking space near our room.

 

[jazz0007]

Thank you for all the pictures related to the coffee, Andre.

Only on the DIS boards would you find awesome detailed pictures of the coffee details in a hotel room!

 

[missnanse]

Thank you for all the pictures related to the coffee, Andre. It looks like the place that holds the provided sealed paper packettes of coffee is large enough to use open top filter paper without overflow of my coffee grinds. So dunkin donuts coffee, paper filters, water, and half and half should take care of the best part of waking up.


I am running out of details to micromanage.

I always bring my Dunkin Donuts coffee with me. I can not live without it. Make sure you go to Kona to eat and order their coffee. Best of the islands.

 

[andrewilley]

Only on the DIS boards would you find awesome detailed pictures of the coffee details in a hotel room!

I guess I should point out that they've been on www.portorleans.org for ages, I just linked to them... Just sayin'

Andrer

 

[wtccheermom]

back. We spent seven nights at POFQ last week. Some initial thoughts:

Refurb

- really like the full counter sink. There was plenty of room for toiletries - especially with the shelf remaining.
- liked the new decor. The contrast of the light walls and the dark wood and colors made the walls seem stark to me. A mid level border may have helped.
- my wife thought the drawers were too deep. I liked them.
- noticed how the dresser has plug ins allowing for easy connections for electronic equipment to the TV. We didn't try it but it seems convenient.
- still not happy with the refrigerators. I only put ten water bottles in the first day and they still didn't get very cold. I have a 25 year old former dorm fridge in my game room that cools better.

Buses

- Generally positive with mainly minimal waits and very few times standing.
- Two issues 1) a 40 minute wait at MK before a bus arrived and 2) The boats on the Sassagoula River were shut down due to lightening. There was no Port Orleans bus for over an hour. We eventually made it to POFQ after an 1:45 after going through POR. Some people waited longer. We kept intending to catch a cab but buses kept coming and we were sure the next one would be for PO. By the the time the first bus showed up there were probably three busloads of people.
- In general WDW buses are nonsensical to me. One time at 7:00 AM going to an AM EMH park, I saw three buses for another park and two for another before the AM EMH park bus arrived. The bus we wanted was within 15 minutes of us arriving at the stop but it was surprising. A second time I had to run by the front desk as we were leaving. I arrived at the bus stop before my family and a MK bus arrived. They were late and the bus was pulling away before they could get there. The next bus to pull up was another MK bus a minute after the last one pulled away which we rode by ourselves.

Location

We asked for Bldgs 5 then 4 but got 3. That's not a big deal. Bldg 3 had a large Brazilian tour group contingency. The first couple of nights they were very loud up to and beyond midnight. The guy two doors down was very vocal and direct. We mentioned the noise issue to the front desk. The noise levels did diminish somewhat later in our stay. The one benefit was I always had a parking space near our room.

Tour Groups at POFQ! I really hope that is not the case in 2 weeks. We specifically choose FQ thinking with it being smaller there would be no groups of rowdy teenagers.

 

[ciera321]

Hootch - What date did you arrive? We've been to DW in July and we said never again during the big tour group time. We are planning on going in June next year for our DS's graduation celebration and I don't want to overlap if possible.

 

[pooh2001]

I just tried to add 2 more nights at POFQ to my current reservation and they are SOLD out!! Guess we'll stay at AsSp for the first 2 nights and transfer to POFQ for the other 5 nights.

Soooo, how exactly will we transfer our stuff between the resorts? We are going to have 9+ pieces of luggage and the idea is a bit daunting!

Thanks!

Gina

Do you at least 2 adults in your group ?
Does everyone have a cell phone - Verizon works well at WDW.
Let everyone carry their own park tickets. Or at least the adult group 'leaders'.

If you want your luggage ASAP - pack up the last morning of AsSP -
Call for a taxi (Mears normally - you may have to reserve the night before at All Star Sports) for a 7 am or 8 am pickup.
Taxi may cost you $15 to $20 - but if you want to keep track of your luggage and want it ASAP, I would do the taxi.


Have one adult with the luggage go to POFQ in the taxi, maybe the adult going to POFQ in the taxi can have another group person (a teen would be good) go with them, then check in, bet your room will not be ready at 7:30 or 8:30 AM - so store the luggage with the POFQ bell hop.

The other adult with the rest of your group, go to a Park - maybe DHS or EPCOT - you can find easy places to meet there, as long as it is not a EMH morning.

The adult at POFQ (and maybe the teen) - calls the group at the Park with status.
Then the adult at POFQ(and the teen who also tagged along) takes a POFQ bus to what ever park the group went to.
POFQ adult calls the group cell phone for a meeting place.


I would do the taxi and split group idea. You loose very little time in Park which opens at 9 AM and you will have your luggage ASAP.

Your room at POFQ should be ready by 3 pm.
POFQ can call you (adult which checked in at 7:30 - 8:30 AM) when the room is ready. You can request for your stored luggage at POFQ be brought to your room by bell service.


After your whole group toured a Park on your 'moving day' you can all go back to POFQ, unpack and explore your new resort. In the evening take the POFQ boat to DTD and have a bite to eat and browse the stores.

 

[Hootch]

Tour Groups at POFQ! I really hope that is not the case in 2 weeks. We specifically choose FQ thinking with it being smaller there would be no groups of rowdy teenagers.

Hootch - What date did you arrive? We've been to DW in July and we said never again during the big tour group time. We are planning on going in June next year for our DS's graduation celebration and I don't want to overlap if possible.

arrived June 20th for seven nights. When my wife spoke to the front desk she was told the group was scheduled to leave after the first week of July.

I believe there was a tour group at POFQ at the tail end of our last WDW vacation in 2009. The only time I saw them then was late one night at the food court which was packed.

Honestly, only the first couple of days were frustrating. I don't know if they were told to hold down the noise or we just got too tired from the early wake ups and late bed times. I would see them around the resort but they never really were a problem other than the first two nights when they were doing cheers and singing in unison around midnight.

 

[Pixiedust34]

I read a while back that WDW was experimenting with offering wi-fi in select areas of CR and CSR. Both are convention resorts, so it makes sense to start there.

I am wondering if anyone knows if the pilot wi-fi program will be expanded to other resorts and areas? I know that we could pay for internet connection, but the wi-fi would be great to have if it is to be expanded.

 

[itsalebeau]

Hootch - our trips overlapped!

We got back a few days ago - stayed 6 nights. The Brazilian teens were there when we were there too, but luckily we were in building 7...as far away as possible!

We got to POFQ at 11:30pm and they were all in the pool! It was crazy. But then after that first night I rarely saw them.

So we were in quiet-land over in 7, and the walk wasn't bad to the main bldg and buses.

For all the people that are there at once, it never felt crowded.

We took a bus to DTD but planned on taking the boat back. Unfortunately there was a torrential downpour that lasted for a couple hours. We headed to the boats, not knowing they aren't really protected from the rain. Needless to say, it was a wet ride back! My kids, though exhausted and cranky, thought running through the rain was fun and snuggled up with us under a poncho.

Everyone at POFQ was nice. The food crew was minimally happy, but I wouldn't be thrilled slinging hash wearing those silly outfits at 6am.

The desk staff was amazing.

We mostly had good bus luck. Longest waits I think were leaving MK and Epcot.

We were at DHS and had ADRs at 1900 Park Fare so we thought we'd just hop on the Grand Floridian Bus. I assumed that since POFQ has its own bus, a deluxe resort would too. Well, we stopped at Contemporary, then Poly, and finally GF, and were late for dinner. Lame!

Overall I really liked POFQ. Peaceful, walkable, the little garden spots and fountains are lovely, as is the walk along the river. The chef in the am made was really nice and made us vegan Mickey waffles with strawberries. The evening chef pointed out I could get a salad and didn't offer to help in any other way (luckily they have veg burgers).

Of course, after eating at 1900 Park Fare my kids want to stay at GF!

I'll try and post a couple pictures if I can figure it out.